Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 21, 2025 4 hours, 27 minutes ago
Medical News: Gliomas are among the most aggressive forms of brain tumors, known for their complex biological behavior and poor prognosis. These tumors, arising from glial cells in the brain, often pose significant challenges in treatment due to their rapid growth and resistance to therapies. Researchers from the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Xiamen Hospital, and Shanghai Tianyou Hospital in China have explored a promising natural compound, farnesol, as a potential anticancer agent against glioma cells. Their findings bring hope for more effective treatment strategies for this deadly disease.
The Phytochemical Farnesol Suppresses Glioma Cell Growth and Promotes Apoptosis
What is Farnesol?
Farnesol is a natural phytochemical compound found in various plants and essential oils, including citronella and cyclamen. Farnesol is a sesquiterpene alcohol that exists widely in fruits such as peaches, vegetables such as tomatoes and corn, herbs such as lemon grass and chamomile, and in the essential oils of ambrette seeds and citronella
FarnesoI is known for its diverse pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Despite these benefits, its potential against gliomas had not been thoroughly investigated until now. This
Medical News report focuses on the groundbreaking study examining how farnesol impacts glioma C6 cells, a model for brain cancer research.
The Study at a Glance
The researchers evaluated the effects of farnesol on glioma C6 cells and nonmalignant Vero cells. Using methods such as MTT assays for cell viability, fluorescence staining for apoptosis, and biochemical assays to measure oxidative stress and protein expressions, the study revealed a clear picture of how farnesol works.
Key Findings
-Antioxidant Properties of Farnesol
Farnesol demonstrated strong antioxidant properties by effectively scavenging free radicals in laboratory tests. These antioxidant capabilities are critical because oxidative stress contributes to cancer progression. By reducing oxidative damage, farnesol may protect normal cells while targeting cancerous ones.
-Reduction in Glioma Cell Viability
The study’s MTT assay showed that farnesol significantly reduced the viability of glioma C6 cells in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at concentrations between 1 and 100 µM. Importantly, the compound had minimal effects on nonmalignant Vero cells, suggesting it selectively targets cancer cells.
-Induction of Apoptosis
Farnesol’s ability to induce apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, was confirmed using DAPI staining and dual staining techniques. Treated glioma cells showed nuclear fragmentation, reduced cell counts, and the presence of apoptotic bodies. The researchers noted that farnesol effectively triggered early and late-stage apoptosis in these cells.
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-Enhanced Oxidative Stress
The treatment increased oxidative stress markers, including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while reducing antioxidant markers like glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in glioma cells. This imbalance pushed the cancer cells toward apoptosis while sparing healthy cells from similar stress.
-Modulation of Apoptotic Proteins
Farnesol altered the balance of key proteins involved in cell death. It increased the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9, while reducing anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl-2 and cyclin D1. This shift favors apoptosis, further highlighting farnesol’s potential as a cancer therapy.
-Inhibition of Inflammatory Markers
The treatment reduced inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-6, and COX-2. These proteins are often overexpressed in gliomas and contribute to tumor growth and resistance to treatment. By downregulating these markers, farnesol helped create an environment less conducive to cancer progression.
Impact on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway
One of the most significant findings was farnesol’s effect on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This pathway is a critical regulator of cell growth, survival, and metabolism, often overactivated in cancers, including gliomas. Farnesol treatment reduced the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR proteins, effectively blocking this pathway and promoting apoptosis.
Conclusion
Farnesol shows remarkable potential as an anticancer agent against glioma cells. By reducing cell viability, inducing apoptosis, enhancing oxidative stress, and targeting critical signaling pathways, it addresses multiple aspects of tumor progression. These findings underscore its potential for development as a therapeutic option for gliomas.
However, more research is needed to fully understand the molecular mechanisms of farnesol’s action and evaluate its effectiveness in clinical settings. Future studies should focus on optimizing its dosage, exploring its effects in combination with existing therapies, and assessing its safety profile in human trials.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Pharmacognosy Magazine.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09731296241305861
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